PGA Tour: Viktor Hovland and Xander Schauffele have both withdrawn from the WM Phoenix Open. (Image: Getty)
Viktor Hovland, the fourth-ranked player in the World Golf Ranking, and fifth-ranked Xander Schauffele have both withdrawn from the WM Phoenix Open, which takes place in the American state of Arizona starting Thursday. Despite their absence, the prestigious tournament still boasts a prominent field of players.
PGA Tour: Viktor Hovland and Xander Schauffele unexpectedly withdraw
According to the PGA Tour, both players will not be part of the field at the WM Phoenix Open this weekend. Viktor Hovland’s decision not to participate has fueled speculation about a potential switch to the LIV Golf League. Although Viktor Hovland has previously questioned the leadership of the PGA Tour, he also emphasized in December that a move to the LIV Golf League is highly unlikely.
After participating in The Sentry at the beginning of January, Hovland’s appearance at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am was only his second tournament of the year. The Norwegian finished tied for 58th place there. He had a solid start in the first round but followed it with two 72s before the tournament was cut short to 54 holes. It wouldn’t be the first time he withdraws after a disappointing tournament
Xander Schauffele finished 54th at Pebble Beach, one shot better than Hovland. The two players will be replaced by Victor Perez and Alexander Bjoerk, while Ryan Fox will compensate for another withdrawal by Davis Riley.
Strong field despite withdrawals
The WM Phoenix Open will be held at TPC Scottsdale. Despite the absence of Viktor Hovland and Xander Schauffele, several other top-10 players from the World Golf Ranking, including Scottie Scheffler, Wyndham Clark, Max Homa, Matt Fitzpatrick, and Brian Harman, will participate in the tournament. Other prominent names include Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Sam Burns, and Rickie Fowler, as well as former major winners Hideki Matsuyama and Adam Scott.
McIlroy in the lead and five US Players in the Top 120. (Photo: Getty)
As the DP World Tour progresses, we have already witnessed a series of thrilling tournaments, with the most recent event won by Dylan Fritelli, who has climbed to eighth place in the Race to Dubai rankings. Rory McIlroy is still at the top of the rankings. McIlroy further solidifying his dominance with a total of 1596 points from playing in 2 events and notching up 1 victory. Among the cream of the crop in the rankings, American players have made their presence felt, with 5 of them placed within the top 120.
Race to Dubai’s Top American Contenders
Johannes Veerman, worth keeping an eye on, is the leading American in the Race to Dubai standings. He has gathered 185.7 points and ranks 41st after participating in 5 events. Hot on his trail is Sean Crocker, who has accrued 151.97 points, making him the second-best American on the list at the 56th spot, followed by John Catlin, who collected 109.35 points in three tournaments played, putting him in 79th place. Next US Player in the Race to Dubai Ranking is Chase Hanna in 107th position with 67.65 points. Last but not least, Julian Suri completes the American round. He scored 63.75 points in two tournament starts and is currently in 112th place.
Dominance in the Race to Dubai
Rory McIlroy is the dominant force in the Race to Dubai 2024 so far, maintaining a healthy lead over his closest competitors. He’s followed in the rankings by Poland’s Adrian Meronk, with 1023.4 points, and Chile’s Joaquin Niemann, who boasts 966.73 points. Not far behind is South Africa’s Zander Lombard, who climbed 6 positions this week to rank 4th, while Japan’s Rikuya Hoshino rounds out the top 5 with 715.35 points in his kitty.
How the DP World Tour Race to Dubai works
The Race to Dubai is the season ranking of the DP World Tour (former European Tour). The top 60 players in the Race to Dubai ranking are allowed to take part in the final play-off tournament of the former European Tour at the end of the season. The season ranking also determines who is allowed to play on the DP World Tour the following year. At each tournament, the players who make the cut collect points. The total number of points awarded at a tournament depends on the value of the event. Major tournaments earn the most points. For winning a DP World Tour tournament, the winner receives at least 460 points and a good 300,000 euros.
Rory McIlroy has changed his mind about the LIV Golf League. (Source: Getty)
As the LIV Golf Tour unveiled a new team just ahead of the Pebble Beach Pro-Am, boasting the likes of Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton, Rory McIlroy shared his thoughts on these significant player migrations. McIlroy, a staunch supporter of the PGA Tour and DP World Tour, surprised many with his altered perspective on players making the transition to LIV Golf.
Rory McIlroy: “At the end of the day, everyone has to do what’s right for them.”
Days before teeing off at the iconic Pebble Beach Links in California, McIlroy delved into the topic during a press conference on Tuesday. Expressing his views on Tyrrell Hatton’s move, McIlroy emphasized the importance of each golfer making decisions that align with their personal journey. “At the end of the day, everyone has to do what’s right for them. I had a lengthy conversation with Tyrrell on Sunday, and I completely understand where he’s coming from. They’ve reached a point in negotiations where he feels comfortable. He has to do what he believes is right, so I won’t stand in anyone’s way of making a living. And if they view it as life-changing money, absolutely,” McIlroy stated.
The multiple Major-winner also touched upon the topic of potential sanctions for players looking to return to their original tours. McIlroy firmly stood against punitive measures, advocating for mutual understanding and collaboration between tours to propel the sport forward. This marked a significant departure from his earlier stance, as McIlroy emphasized his changed perspective, fueled by a desire to ensure the best for the sport as a whole.
?️ "I don't think there should be a punishment"
Rory McIlroy admits he has changed his tune by saying returning LIV Golf players shouldn't be punished ❌ pic.twitter.com/drKmaEp3Wo
Justin Thomas on the latest additions to LIV Golf: “I’m done with it”
Adding to the discourse, Justin Thomas shared his thoughts on the recent influx of players into LIV Golf during the Pebble Beach event. “I feel like at this point, I’m done with it. It is what it is,” Thomas commented. Reflecting on the diversity of opinions surrounding the moves, he acknowledged that people make decisions based on what they believe is best for them. While expressing disappointment over Hatton’s departure, Thomas displayed understanding and refrained from passing judgment, acknowledging the individuality of each player’s choices.
Three days before the start of the 2024 season in Mayakoba, LIV Golf announces the line-up and team name for the 13th team, which will be under the direction of Jon Rahm. Under the name “Legion XIII”, inspired by the Legion XIII Gemina in Ceasar’s Army, the new team will play with the mantra “Together we play. Together we conquer.” Captain Jon Rahm will be joined by Tyrrell Hatton, former amateur Caleb Surratt and Kieran Vincent. There are no more big surprises, the details have already been circulating in the social and traditional golf media with varying degrees of certainty. It was only on Monday that the apparently recent signing of Tyrrell Hatton attracted a great deal of attention.
LIV Golf: Jon Rahm and his 13th Legion
Legion XIII is the first new team to join LIV Golf since the tour’s inception.“We’ve come a long way in a short period of time and are extremely proud of the team and brand we are building,” said Rahm. “As we were developing the team’s brand it became clear that I wanted to fight alongside a group of guys who aligned perfectly with what the team stands for. Tyrrellis a fierce competitor, proven champion, and of course my Ryder Cup teammate. Caleb is one of the brightest next gen stars of the game. And Kieran is a steady, talented ball striker who earned his promotion to LIV and is elevating his game every day.”
Rahm explained more about the meaning he sees in the team name: “The XIII portion of the name was appealing early in the process as it fit the structure of captain (X) and the three players in the lineup (III),” said Rahm. “Plus, we are the 13th team in the league. As for the logo, that was something I was also very passionate about. The soccer team I grew up following (Athletic Bilbao) is called the Lions. It’s just a fierce animal that everybody respects and fears at the same time.”
Rahm’s Legion XIII will consist of:
Jon Rahm, two-time major winner and reigning Masters champion with a total of 20 wins in his professional career.
Tyrrell Hatton, Rahm’s Ryder Cup teammate and 6-time winner on the DP World Tour. “I’m really looking forward to this next chapter, working with Jon Rahm and Legion XIII and getting started this week in Mexico,” said Hatton.
Caleb Surratt, number 10 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking with a successful performance at the Walker Cup 2023
Kieran Vincent, who qualified for the league via the LIV Golf Promotions event and whose brother Scott is already a permanent member of the Iron Heads team.
Shane Lowry holed out for the albatross. (Photo: Getty)
In addition to a hole in one, many a golfer dreams of an albatross. A triple shot win on just one hole is a rare event in golf and worth just as much jubilation and excitement as a hole-in-one. For Shane Lowry, it happened on the fourth day of the Farmers Insurance Open and the 36-year-old PGA Tour winner holed out for an albatross. The magic happened on the first par-5 of the South Course at Torrey Pines. Shane Lowry holed his ball from 234 meters and celebrated. In the end, the Ryder Cup player finished tied 25th at the Farmers Insurance Open 2024.
In the video: Shane Lowry holes out for an albatross
Rory McIlroy wins Hero Dubai Desert Classic on the DP World Tour. (Photo: Getty)
Rory McIlroy won a record-breaking fourth Hero Dubai Desert Classic on the DP World Tour as he successfully defended his title on a dramatic afternoon at Emirates Golf Club.
The Northern Irishman claimed a maiden Rolex Series crown at this event 12 months ago but came into the weekend ten shots back before a stunning third-round 63 put him into the final group on Sunday.
He then turned a two-shot deficit into a four-shot lead with six holes to play before a bogey on the 13th gave the chasing Adrian Meronk and Cameron Young a glimmer of hope.
Rory McIlroy wins in Dubai “where everything started”
“It’s a great start to the season”, McIlroy said after his win. “I started well last year with the win here. A couple of little things still to work on but these weeks are great. You learn a ton from them and obviously great to get the competition and come out on top as well.”
He went on to reminisce about his history with the event. “Just to think like 18 years ago, and what it meant to come here and play in this event, to be sitting here, you know, having won it four times, and all the great experiences that I’ve had in Dubai and the friends that I’ve met and everything sort of along the way, it’s always been a place where I come back to and reminisce about my career because I really feel like it’s where everything started.”
“So it’s amazing to sit here. The first Desert Classic, I took a media credential and I walked inside the ropes to follow Tiger and Ernie and Thomas Bjorn, and then just to think about even the arc of that: Thomas Bjorn was my Ryder Cup Captain; I ended up buying Ernie Els’s house; I’ve become really good friends with Tiger Woods. It’s just amazing to think back on the last 18 years and sort of where I find myself.”
Meronk and Young came short
Pole Meronk cut the lead to one as he signed for a 71 but McIlroy held his nerve down the stretch and carded a 70 for a 14 under par total and a one-shot win.
American Young finished with a 74 to sit at 12 under, two shots clear of Canadian Aaron Cockerill, Spaniard Pablo Larrazábal and Chilean Joaquin Niemann.
The win takes McIlroy past Ernie Els’ hat-trick of Desert Classic victories and hands him his third Rolex Series triumph, having won three of the last five blue riband events.
He also becomes just the second player to successfully defend this title after Stephen Gallacher lifted the Dallah Trophy in 2013 and 2014 and makes it six wins in Dubai with his two victories at the DP World Tour Championship.
The 34-year-old has started the defence of his Race to Dubai Rankings in Partnership with Rolex crown with a runner-up finish and a win as he looks to become Europe’s Number One for a sixth time, moving to the top of the Rankings for the 2024 title and the International Swing.
Dane Nicolai Højgaard, Japan’s Masahiro Kawamura, China’s Li Haotong and Australian Adam Scott finished five shots off the lead.
Adrian Meronk wins the Seve Ballesteros Award 2023. (Image: Getty)
Adrian Meronk has won the 2023 Seve Ballesteros Award after being voted Player of the Year by his peers on the DP World Tour.
The accolade is one of a number of the 31-year-old’s history-making achievements as he becomes the first player from Poland to receive the honour after a season in which he won three times and finished a career-high fourth on the Race to Dubai Rankings in Partnership with Rolex.
Meronk earned 38% of the votes cast by his fellow DP World Tour members, with Race to Dubai Champion Rory McIlroy taking second place. Ryder Cup debutant Nicolai Højgaard and Viktor Hovland, who clinched the PGA TOUR’s FedEx Cup, were in joint third place.
Meronk was presented with the trophy by one of Seve’s sons Javier, who travelled to Dubai ahead of this week’s Hero Dubai Desert Classic, won by his father more than 30 years ago.
The Pole started the 2023 season in stunning fashion, earning his second DP World Tour title at the ISPS HANDA Australian Open, holding off a final day challenge from home favourite – and one of his golfing heroes – Major champion Adam Scott.
His victory in Australia earned him a place inside the Top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking at the end of the 2022 calendar year, enough to secure a maiden appearance at the Masters Tournament and thus become the first player from Poland to compete in all four Major Championships.
Another national open title followed shortly after as he triumphed at the DS Automobiles Italian Open, birdieing the 72nd hole at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club to win the title by one stroke. He then moved to a career-high 45th on the OWGR shortly after his win in Italy.
His next victory of the campaign, and fourth DP World Tour title, came at the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters at Sotogrande, as he secured his position inside the top ten on the season-long rankings, ultimately going on to finish in fourth position and earn dual membership on the PGA TOUR for 2024.
The Player of the Year Award, named after the legendary Seve Ballesteros, incorporates the former Golfer of the Year Award after the two accolades were combined in 2021 to become one single honour voted for by the DP World Tour’s members.
Meronk, said: “It feels amazing. I’m shocked to be honest, I didn’t expect that. You got me by surprise but seeing my name next to all of these players, it’s unbelievable. I’m very grateful for this award. It means a lot to me that other players appreciate my season last year. It’s a great feeling.
“Last year was the best season so far in my career. I’m really happy that other players saw that, as well and give that award. Just thank you for that and I have to keep going.
“I enjoy this week. I love playing here in Dubai. It’s probably one of my favourite tournaments of the year. So I’m excited to be here. We have such a great field this week, so I will just enjoy every moment.”
“It’s actually very nice to be here,” added Ballesteros. “I used to come here with my dad many years ago, and to have an award with his name that the players vote for the Player of the Year, we are very grateful and very happy that there’s a prize with his name.
“Adrian played fantastic last year, he won multiple times and he’s a well-deserved winner of this award.
“We were very happy when the Tour came to us to say that they were going to put the Seve Ballesteros Award for the Player of the Year, and we really do like it. We are very grateful, and the special thing that we like is the prize is voted by the players.”
Keith Pelley, Chief Executive of the DP World Tour, added: “Adrian has made history throughout his career, and I’m delighted to congratulate him once again, this time for becoming the first Polish player to add their name to the illustrious list of winners of the Seve Ballesteros Award.
“Any season that includes three trophies – including two national opens – is always impressive, and Adrian’s peers clearly thought so.
“I also want to thank Javier Ballesteros for travelling to Dubai to present the award to Adrian. It meant a lot to have him there to represent his father.”
Rory McIlroy secures victory in the PGA Tour’s Player Impact Program 2023 and receives a bonus of 15 million US dollars. He takes over from Tiger Woods, who has won the title in recent years. Woods is in second place this year and will receive prize money of 12 million US dollars.
Player Impact Program: Rory McIlroy walks away with 15 million US dollars
The Player Impact Program was introduced in 2020/21 to reward players who generate the most positive interest for the PGA Tour through their media presence. Various criteria are measured: Internet searches, number of news articles, visibility of sponsor logos on TV, general awareness and social media impact. McIlroy came out on top of the top 20 based on these criteria this year, with a total prize money of 100 million US dollars distributed among them. “The scoring model for the program is intended to be as objective as possible with the goal of quantifying the impact each player has on the PGA Tour,” Jason Gore, the Tour’s executive vice president and chief player officer, wrote in a memo.
Rory McIlroy recently attracted attention in the golf world with his withdrawal from the PGA Tour Politics Committee and the postponement of the start of the TGL League, which he founded with Tiger Woods, by one year. His commitment to the PGA Tour and his success on the course continue to make him the face of the Tour, especially when competing against the up-and-coming LIV Tour. In addition to McIlroy’s sporting achievements, his victory in the Player Impact Program now also recognizes his positive impact on awareness and interest in golf.
The top 20 of the Player Impact Program is as follows:
14 tournaments are on the 2024 LIV Golf League tournament calendar. (Photo: Getty)
LIV Golf enters its third round: After the tour was launched in 2022, the third season will begin in 2024. The league recently announced the locations where the 54-hole tournaments will take place next year. From Mexico to Australia and Saudi Arabia, the tour players will travel around the world. While not all the venues have been confirmed yet, it is certain that there will be 14 tournaments at which the players will compete for an individual and team championship.
LIV Golf: old acquaintances and new courses
The new schedule was published at the insistence of LIV player Brooks Koepka. On social media, the reigning Major winner was impatient about the scheduling of next year’s tournaments. But even after the dates have been published, players and fans will have to be patient. Not all venues have been confirmed yet. In addition to the venues, the exact dates for the season finals are still open.
2/2-4: LIV Mayakoba — El Cameleon Country Club
2/8-10: LIV Las Vegas — Las Vegas Country Club
3/1-3: LIV Saudi Arabia — TBD
3/8-10: LIV Hong Kong — Hong Kong Golf Club
4/5-7: LIV “USA” — Location and course TBD
4/26-28: LIV Adelaide — The Grange Golf Club
5/3-5: LIV Singapore — The Serapong Golf Club
6/7-9: LIV Houston — The Golf Club of Houston
6/21-23: LIV Nashville — The Grove Golf Club
7/12-14: LIV Andalucia — Real Club Valderrama
7/25-28: LIV UK: Staffordshire — JCB Golf and Country Club
8/16-19: LIV Greenbrier — The Old White Course at the Greenbrier
Date, Course and Location TBD: LIV Golf Individual Championships
Date, Course and Location TBD: LIV Golf Team Championships
“LIV Golf is the truly global golf league that the sport and its fans deserve,” said LIV Golf Commissioner and CEO Greg Norman. “We’re thrilled to announce an exciting slate of events that reflects our commitment to bringing world-class players and premier competition to new and repeat markets every year. Launching a new league is a massive undertaking, and we’re full steam ahead building off our incredibly successful first full season in 2023. Our goal has always been to create a worldwide league that inspires progress and attracts new fans to the sport that we love. LIV Golf is stronger than ever, and next season will accomplish that goal and more.”
A look at the schedule
In addition to the courses already familiar to LIV players, such as the Old White Course in Greenbrier or the Grange Golf Club in Australia, there are some new venues on the schedule. In February, for example, the tour will make a guest appearance at the Las Vegas Country Club in the middle of Las Vegas – on the same weekend as the Super Bowl, the final game of the National Football League. The courses on which the LIV tournaments will take place in Saudi Arabia and the USA have not yet been decided. The latter venue should be particularly interesting for the players, as it is the last tournament before the first Major of the year just one week before the Masters 2024.
It is also notable that this is the first schedule that has no connection to Trump Golf. In the first two seasons, the league repeatedly played on courses owned by the former president – as things stand, the tour will not be visiting any of Donald Trump’s well-known courses next year.
Saudi Arabia, the home of the LIV Golf League, has found its place in the schedule at the start of the season. Following the recent uproar over Saudi Arabia as the venue for the team final, which was ultimately played in Miami, the LIV players will travel to Saudi Arabia in March next year. This date overlaps with the traditional Saudi International, which shows the league’s efforts to reduce the travel burden for its players in 2024.
While Dustin Johnson's 4Aces are still in search for a new player, Bubba Watson's roster is already complete. (Photo: Getty)
The first transfer period in the history of golf is entering the hot phase – free agency. In this phase, teams with open roster spots can sign unsigned players from the Lock Zone and Open Zone. Players from the Lock Zone have completed the previous season in positions 1-24 and are therefore guaranteed a place in the coming season. These players can voluntarily become free agents and negotiate a new contract. Open Zone players who finished the season in 25th-44th place are automatically free agents and must sign a new contract. At the moment, ten roster spots are still vacant – four of the 12 teams are already complete. 4Aces GC captain Dustin Johnson among others is still in search for a new player.
LIV Golf: An overview of free agency
The situation in the second phase of the LIV Golf transfer period for the individual teams is explained below.
The overview of the current LIV Golf rosters. (Photo: LIV Golf)
4Aces GC
The 2022 LIV Golf Team Champions have one roster spot available with Pat Perez no longer under contract after finishing 28th in the points list, leaving Captain Dustin Johnson with the decision to either re-sign Perez or look for another player. Peter Uihlein, who joined the team from Smash GC last offseason, secured and accepted a contract extension with the 4Aces after his 12th place finish in this year’s Individual Standings. Rounding out the formidable squad is Patrick Reed, who finished 6th.
Cleeks GC
Martin Kaymer’s Cleeks have two open roster spots after Bernd Wiesberger and Graeme McDowell finished 41st and 42nd respectively in the Individual Standing and are now free agents. Kaymer remains as captain, receiving exempt status despite finishing in the Drop Zone (45th or below). Richard Bland re-signed with the Cleeks after his late-season surge locked up a spot with a 20th place finish.
Crushers GC
The reigning 2023 Team Champions, led by Captain Bryson DeChambeau, will return their entire roster. Anirban Lahiri, the team’s only player with an expiring contract, accepted his extension offer after finishing 11th in the Individual Standings. Charles Howell III, the winner of LIV Golf Mayakoba, finished 10th while Paul Casey remains under contract after finishing 35th.
Fireballs GC
Sergio Garcia’s Fireballs have one open roster spot after Carlos Ortiz, who finished 15th in the Individual Standings, opted for free agency after declining a contract extension offer. Abraham Ancer and Eugenio Chacarra, each under contract for at least one more season, finished in 26th and 32nd respectively.
Hyflyers GC
Phil Mickelson’s team has one open spot after James Piot was relegated after finishing 47th in the Drop Zone. Both Cameron Tringale (16th) and Brendan Steele (19th) are under contract and will return. Mickelson will look to add a player through free agency or the draft.
Iron Heads GC
Captain Kevin Na will add at least one new player due to Sihwan Kim’s relegation. Scott Vincent played his way into the Lock Zone in the regular-season finale in Jeddah and accepted his extension offer. Danny Lee, winner of LIV Golf Tucson, is under contract for next season.
Majesticks GC
Co-captains Ian Poulter, Henrik Stenson and Lee Westwood return, as does Sam Horsfield, who rejoined the lineup late in the season following an injury and remains under contract.
RangeGoats GC
Captain Bubba Watson’s decision to acquire Talor Gooch last offseason proved successful after Gooch hoisted the 2023 Individual Championship trophy. The addition of Gooch helped the RangeGoats finish runners-up at this year’s Team Championship in Miami. Watson’s lineup is set as both Harold Varner III (7th) and Thomas Pieters (33rd) are under contract.
Ripper GC
With Matt Jones (37th) now a free agent and Jediah Morgan (46th) relegated, Captain Cameron Smith has the option to either re-sign Jones or look to add two new players via free agency or the draft. Marc Leishman, who completes the team, finished 18th in the 2023 Individual Standings.
Smash GC
Captain Brooks Koepka has one open roster spot following Chase Koepka’s relegation while Jason Kokrak (23rd) and Matt Wolff (27th) are under contract for another season.
Stinger GC
Captain Louis Oosthuizen’s team is set with Branden Grace (9th), Dean Burmester (14th) and Charl Schwartzel (38th) under contract.
Torque GC
Four-time tournament champions and third-place finishers at this year’s Team Championship, Joaquin Niemann’s Torque has one open roster spot heading into this offseason. Mito Pereira (8th) and Sebastian Muñoz (11th) secured their spots for next year while David Puig is a free agent, having finished 31st in this year’s Individual Standings. Thus, Niemann will look to add one player via free agency or the draft
LIV Golf: The remainder of the transfer period
Free agency will conclude when four league roster spots remain. These open spots are reserved for the winner of The International Series 2023 Rankings – claimed by Andy Ogletree this past weekend in Hong Kong – and the top three finishers from LIV Golf Promotions, which will be staged December 8-10 at the iconic Abu Dhabi Golf Club in United Arab Emirates. Following the qualifying tournament, the league will host the LIV Golf Draft through which these players will be drafted onto the remaining teams that have an open spot on their roster.
Additionally, to support opportunities for teams to strengthen their rosters once the season has begun, a mid-season trading window will take place in 2024 (exact dates to be announced) where teams and players will be free to negotiate trades as well as extensions to their existing contracts if a player is in the last year of his contract.
